uh this is the town guidance Board of selectman special meeting we're going to go into executive session today is Monday April 29th 2024 at 6:00 pm. in person in Via Zoom well not zoom today at Oldtown Hall 11:11 Somerset Avenue this meeting is being recorded the listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair which may be discussed at the meeting not all items listed in fact may be discussed and other items not listed may also be Ved for discussion to the extent permitted by law uh this is a call to order please mark Pico present Nicole Melo present and Peter Karen present we're going to go into Massachusetts General Law chapter 38 sections 21 A3 to discuss the strategy with respect to collective bargaining and litigation if an open meeting may have a detrial effect on the bargaining or litigation litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares the chair does declare we are going to discuss Dinan offices for local 306 Dian firefighters local 4332 indicted Communications dispatch employees and then we're going to return to open session motion to enter executive session I'll second that all those in favor I pet C is in I thank you thank you hi recording okay we just from executive session can everybody please rise with of United States of America the Republic for it stands One Nation God indivisible with liberty and justice for all okay we go right into the public input so um we should be good this evening okay um we're going to go two public inputs one now and one at the end of the the meeting and I understand Mr Moore you have something to say as well that's why you're here you're going to go over the warrant articles correct one by one so you want to wait at that time at that time okay Mr Hall is that okay with you fine okay all right then we're going to go right into Old Business Review discuss and act fiscal year 2025 budget review recommendations in review of the warrant articles yes is if I jump in Mr yes sir okay so we do um we last this past thday night we met uh we met with the finance committee um reviewed kind of where we were with the budget um the operational budget um identified at that point um due to the increases in overlay and also due to um the changes in the house budget uh the House of Representative budget relating to local Aid um that operational deficit went up to um went back up to $240,000 from the um $21,000 that we were at a few weeks ago with the additional targeted cuts um we the fincom Met um they did review and I discussed at length the options um that um have mentioned um for the better part of last month about the options that we have really to get to a balanced budget um they do the and they are hoping to meet and um actually with the selectman Thursday night um to try to come to a final consensus um like on that path forward uh but in the process as well they add um they have identified the chairman of the fincom identified an additional $40,000 $40,000 in additional cuts that actually gets back down um to the having a deficit of around $21,000 um that just to be clear that just really gets us to zero um we do and as um I as a town account May mention as well um that just ending at zero is is frankly not good enough um because during the recap process in November and December when we have to finalize our tax rate um especially when it comes to different uh types of overlay issues the DOI um we can have our we can have our overlight estimate but um when it goes we go to do the the recap do basically comes up with their own oh yeah their own their own overlay methodology and so we have to be we have to be well over the positive because if we're just at our if we're just at Zero oh yeah like I mean do makes any adjustments we not we have to be able to absorb that so and ideally we would um as we balance get to a um a positive balance in our view uh between uh $20,000 and $50,000 just to have that room that room is healthy and um healthy to have anyways uh but we do have and we have just over two weeks um at this point to finalize a warrant so we do at this point have to um and I oh we would have budget recommendations from the board of selectman um that uh that will get to us get us really to a balanced budget to be able to present uh in the annual time meeting warrant so like in the spreadsheet like you will note U that um oh like as I reviewed my initial uh Town administrative recommendations um last month uh we also we went back to the drawing board after that uh the town of account the chairman of the board of s and I to um to try to Enis additional Cuts just to help us really balance because we're not balanced um and as I mentioned the the fincom like over and above that has identified but hasn't actually voted yet um to make um like an additional $40,000 in Cuts uh to help us get closer uh but even with that we still have a deficit of around $21,000 we need to close and um so we do have those same options to balance um we could try to make we could try to make even more cuts which they're becoming increasingly increasingly more challenging and oh in my opinion we'll have a um oh like increasing an increasingly more difficult impact on our service delivery um and we also yeah we know where we are with the BP debt there's there's been discussion of a debt exclusion as well um going planning for FY 26 and I also know that the there has been discussion about the use the use of free cash just to help balance FY 25 as well so I really just want to throw out all that out there all that out there to the board and um and hopes of us um being able to wrap up this process in the next um like ideally week and a half so we have as we have the ability to make any adjust Ms and finalize everything well before the deadline Thursday night and next Tuesday night just a placeholder sorry um all these dates are blending in right now okay so the the fin CL we have to have the one posted by I think Monday the 20th um so Friday the the 17th is really actually Thursday the 16th is really the drop dead um date um so um we're hoping that because we um we have the operational budget and then we have the war articles we also have to deal with um ideally we would get through and have a balanced operational budget first because how we how we balance the operational budget um especially if we use free cash that has an ability and will impact what we're able to fund through Capital as well so one thing um would affect the other there but um so we could have the beginning of that discussion tonight um we are meeting jointly with the FC on Thursday night second um the board has a the board of selectman has a regular meeting next Wednesday the 8th uh we do have a um we know the fincom is meeting on the 9th as well and like if we need to having Wednesday the 15th as I like as a finalization of anything else just to um make sure we meet that deadline if that if that makees sense and answer your question yes I think on the calendar that LE sent out today was Tuesday I thought as a folder yeah yeah we reserved right so we wanted to make sure we reserved as much time and space as possible to give options um so next Tuesday could be another option um that we have for either the sment or the fincom to meet uh but yeah we just wanted to block off basically as much as we could to make sure we um had the space um to work with both boards um to get this whole process wrapped up okay Tuesdays on ideal for me Mondays Wednesdays any other day by Tuesday un it's later sure so there's not going to be any recommendations tonight in ter in terms of the budget line items yeah yeah the board yeah like the board like I mean like like ideally we would be ideally we would start going through those and making the board make those recommendations okay so the additional proposed budget targeted cuts are the ones from the finance committee from the other night no no the finc is not in there yet because uh typically they make their recommendations on yes and so they've identified an additional $440,000 in total um but but those aren't in here as of yet so you want to go over each department at this point yeah like it's really up to the closure of the board oh yeah like I mean oh yeah like I mean the board I mean the board could oh yeah like approve I recommendation to include the the the additional proposed balance I mean the additional proposed targeted Cuts but then if this as a whole I can then I can then if any departmental line item you want to um like I could go through in more detail the boy could oh yeah I mean like exempt them from the overall motion okay oh yeah I can deal with them in times uh I'm going stir crazy um guys have any questions at this stage I would like I wasn't at to meeting like um the sorry the umit that was really more of a discussion just an open discussion they didn't make any recommendations they didn't vote on anything we were hoping that today's meeting the Selman would make their recommendations in the open call and then when we meet with finom they would make their actual we should go line by Lin start with Tom eating uh salary Checkers is straightforward at this point moderator is uh 5 I think the moderator should be flat it is he doesn't get 10 bucks [Music] either I'm sorry so as we go through them do want to make recommendation for each department uh sure that's what um okay what was saying before about just going to the then you just get to moderator so was 3800 for Department 113 okay uh the moderator is 500 is everybody accepted with that I think we have to accept town meeting first right is that what you're saying that's one Department Oh I thought she said just skip to moderator um Mr chairman I'd like to make a motion to um recommend Department 113 town meeting as presented is there a second I'll second that all those in favor I any discussion no we'll do sorry okay oh I I don't know if I I sorry yeah um so I have no comments on moderator no me neither so um Mr I'd like to make a motion to accept um Department 114 moderator um in the amount of $500 to recommend that amount and the amount of $500 I'll second that motion made second any discussion all those in favor I I Peter Cameron and I so uh for Selectmen we have a departmental request um but it'll show up in the warrant as that we are recommending our salar so I've had that feedback before uh I think we should request it and not recommend it and let the fincom decide if they want to recommend it or not so that's just me so I I prefer we leave our recommendation off the warrant it's just uh just how I feel about that for our salary or for the whole department um if we left it just off the salary lines because that that's the only thing I really had an issue with so no that's I agree okay I'm sorry can I just make the comment so the request that came through the board of Selectmen the salary for FY 25 is 52.2 weeks so what you requested um for the administrative assistant and the BOS assistant is slightly lower so if you go over to the right to the other two columns it's a little bit higher for to account for that one day that's in the middle of the week okay well my only concern is the finance committee is looking for a recommendation from selectman [Music] um and I don't understand the reasoning for not recommending the whole budget so um just like for folks at town meeting right they they look to us for our guidance and we benefit from the sement so we're advising the public for something that we directly benefit from I just feel like we're it's not a lot of money but we're still saying to the public I'm asking for $5,000 and I recommend you give it to me I just wish we just we kept it clean and say I'm asking for $5,000 stien and let the finance committee decide if they want to go for it or not um I don't think we should mess it up um it's my only opinion but we' still recommend the other the other lines in our budget there's only two lines out of our budget that's just that's just how I feel okay is that a motion um so I'll I'll make a motion for uh the B of slman budget it it seems too funky the like the the salary budgets like in the expens budgets are the only thing broken down in the warrant like it doesn't actually get into a line item by line item and as a result those those two line items are part of a broader more all encompassing line for salaries and I just don't know how we separate those two lines within I I understand the perception that you're making but that's your answer to anyone that has that concern that we don't do that because of this reason I don't understand why because it says right on the the warrant on article four we could simply just leave those lines blank so article four on the warrant shows every elected official salary we're elected officials so all I'm looking for is just section that's why he's confused yes okay so in terms of the operational budget like everything will be the same but then in the warrant article that deals with specifically for setting the salaries of elected official we won't have a recommendation there that's all I'm looking for okay that makes sense okay so we are going to recommend it and it's still won off in the warrant like that how I say it I want to get the motion right uh what I would recommend is you hold that comment specifically to when we talk about article four okay um for setting the salaries of elected officials okay like I believe and there's been a few iterations of the one already but I believe Article Five is the operational budget and I would leave things unchanged for the purposes of the operational budget yes please okay so I'll make a motion to um recommend um for the selectman budget 122 as the Town Administrator recommends instead of the departmental request second that motion made in second any discussion all those in favor I I pet car in I administrative budget [Music] no concerns there are differences between my initial recommendation the additional targeted Cuts so there some IND in subscriptions yes yes and can you just cuz I wasn't here for the discussion s the um Ada coordinator got moved yes was the reason for that again um um so um so the role of the Town Administrator would include the like superv the oversight like of the Ada coordinator position rather um there's in the past there's been some confusion about how the commission on disability inter intersection interplayed with that um this is is um this has been proposed in hopes of really cleaning that up and streamlining those um that are the oversight like in supervisory responsibility all right thank [Music] you is there a motion for the town administrator's budget U Mr chairman I'd like to make a motion to recommend the department 124 Town Administrator as um the Town Administrator recommended under additional targetting C I'll second that motion made in second any discussion all those in favor I I Peter Caron I finance committee what happened to the professional and Technical life I missing something was that was that ever in there Peter yeah they don't have attorneys the fcom would work through Town Council but typically they I thought it was zoning board I'm sorry no no way not um Mr chairman I'd like to make a motion to approve uh Department 131 finance committee as the Town Administrator recommends I'll second that motion made in second any discussion all those in favor I I I reserve fund just if I Comm Mr chairman like I do know this is one area the fincom was looking at bringing this down to $50,000 um just based on a budget position I'd like to make a motion to approve uh Department 132 Reserve funds as the Town Administrator recommends second that seconded any discussion I I accountant and the assistant salary accountant the hours get changed um no so it's separated now because I'm putting everyone's additional contractual assments in a separate line um so she actually is making um a little bit more hourly so her hours did stay the same and they have that um the contract is also negotiated so that's why the 24 number is a little low because the 24 number is not the accurate salary we were not um settled with the contracts before we did the budgeting and that's why for the rest to close out f24 we're going to need to draw against the salary Reserve in the Border like in the board of s's budget so that's why that number is H low a little bit in FY 24 okay is there a motion on the floor I'd like to make a motion to approve to recommend account 135 Town account as the Town Administrator recommends I'll second that motion me and second any discussion all those who favor I Kon I all right Board of assessors think we should D $10 from this Chairman's salary give it to the moderator to the moderator have a motion um oh I'm sorry so any I talked about this at my first meeting about being on time and we asked for before I was on the board but it was asked that all boards submit the budgets by February 1st and I just believe in deadline so I just can't I'm not going to recommend any Sal any budget line that was late so they were they submitted the budget on February 5th so it's just a principle I have it's I'm going to treat every apartment the same um so I would like to make a motion to um to recommend um Department 141 by Board of assessors as um the proposed by Town Administrator I'll sit down and second that made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I Peter kenon I Mark where did you get the dates do you have like a separate um right here oh okay all right I was like I'm not seeing whatever he's saying but that's why okay and I just want just Mr chairman if I can just speak on that for another second I just feel like if if we don't kind of make a a point that about beating the deadline that for the selman's recommendation meets something meets something to the taxpayers and I just feel the budget process has you know it's the second year that I've seen the letter go out it was clear that it had to be in by February 1st and my day job it's all about deadlines and meeting deadlines so I know government doesn't always work that way but um it's really just me it's just letting the public know and the the folks that go to town meeting that and our department for me to recommend a budget that needs to be received on time that's all okay can I speak to that sure um just I agree with you uh in your principles I'd like to ask that you also take into consideration that the board of assessors was in quite a bad place this year during this time period we very short left I guarantee you that next year this won't happen again thank you okay Department 145 Town Treasurer you're ready they they were also they we received that budget on February 6 so I'll leave it to someone else to make a mo make a motion um to recommend um Department 145 Town Treasurer as um proposed by the Town Administrator okay chairman we'll step down and second that any discussion all those in favor I no I don't Collective everyone good can I make a motion um I would like to make a motion that we recommend um Department 146 town of collector as proposed by the Town Administrator I'll set down and second it any discussion all those in favor I post no C and I motion passes Town Council um I'd like to make a motion to approve line 151 Town Council as recommended by the Town Administrator second that second discussion um 55,000 enough considering last year and 63 um we've had we've had oh like we've we've had some outlier issues to deal with um we um uh we really never know um exactly what we're going to encounter during the year um in FY 24 we've also faced additional things that we never expected as well 55 enough enough that I want to add to the budget I know we're already tight but um I mean like it could go either way like I mean like it could oh yeah like oh yeah one could argue that's why the reserve fund also exists it also is why we would want to leave a hold back as well with free cash but like on the other hand like your point is well taken um I yeah like I mean though we can never predict we have been trending higher um as well we can out that Reserve fund quickly yeah quickly so it's yeah like I mean yeah like going increasing to 60 or 65 that would the board my opinion would have but have completely rational legitimate oh yeah all ways they um oh and and rationale to do that so it's um I mean we are a $28 million organization so how about between now in November though we do have some time special right so um we need it yeah we could yeah based on how we're trending then sure okay motion made and seconded any discussion well all those in favor I I keep this an [Applause] i you got time to sit do all this or would you us to take a break and no keep going data processing I like to have an additional targeted Cuts since my initi recommendation I'm ready if you guys are could you just um just speak to the additional oh yeah so um we've been carrying a line for uh for building permit software user fees um to um to work to get um a lot of our financial team departments up onto into perment link as well uh we've been continuing to build that out um and we now have reached a point where based on what is happening with based on what's happening with the like State as well we were going to incorporate the board of health permits in there too um but they're based on the other roll out the roll out the roll out of a Statewide what health permit system as well we're kind of at a pause to see how the roll out like of that uh technology happens before we see and are able to evaluate how intersects with the uh the further build of our own system so that's where we were able to uh to reduce that line by um $5,000 awesome is there motion on the floor um I'll make a motion for the board of selectman to recommend line5 data processing um as presented by the Town Administrator through the additional targeted Cuts I'll second that may seconded any discussion all those in favor I I uh tax tile foreclosure great for I'll make a motion that we accept um Department 158 T tax title for closure um recommendation by the Town Administrator have no second okay motion made I'll s down and second it motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I Peters and I no town clerk there was a $400 difference in this budget since it was initially proposed what so what went down uh c420 office supplies by $400 okay I see it thanks so um I'd like are you entertaining a motion I'm sorry sure I'd like to make a motion to recommend line 161 Department 161 town clerk um and to make my motions clear I'll say the whole amount in the amount of $1,451 120 I'll second that motion me seconded any discussion all those in favor I I he and I ele a motion on the floor I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 162 elections in the amount of $ 42551 I'll second that motion made and seconded any discussions those in favor I I Peterson I um I'd like to make a motion to recommend line 16 Department 163 registration the amount of $600 600 600 it's um 8302 amount of $832 okay that'd be scary I'll second that motion me seconded any discussion all those in favor I I Peter K and I Conservation Commission Mike I see there was a decrease in subscriptions yes um this um this was because the um the uh the conservation uh the Conservation Commission has been uh asking this this is would be the second year for funds for increased training opportunities for conservation members um they they had that increased training in FY well they have that incre those increased training um opportunities in FY 204 as well um they've utilized it but they have not utilized and they're not trending to utilize $1,500 worth so um I propose that we bring that down to um $1,000 there um and then like just above that in 5580 um they do have an other they do have other supplies line um that was initially proposed at th000 and I'm I propose we bring that down to 600 um and then there was a modification in professional technical as well motion on the floor so was at the Conservation Commission meeting where they asked for um additional supplies like for boots and hug spray and I thought Mr digit was moving for me so what line was that that was actually in uh 5158 benefits in uniform boot allowance just one note there we have been trying to create some alignment between like a three field employees um that we have so we've always had this uh this basically seesaw approach where uh with our three employees in town who do work in the field we have had a tendency in Prior years that uh one of those employees would get nothing I like another would get um a modest am and then we'd have another employee who would get even more than that so we have tried to create some uniformity there like although it's not exactly like a perfect formula uh just in terms of the uh trying to have more Equity there so there enough for all the members to get a pair of boots if they needed eventually with that rotation or is it just for employees just for employees yeah I thought his request was for like the members to get it right no talking about just her one of the things that I kind of don't is the fact that every Department's request for boots is job specific so to say that conservation boots cost the same as the boots the building inspect needs is really difficult I had suggested so that you could see what they were requesting in twon they have to submit a requisition I know in TW we wanted a specific item the decision makers saw the item with a description what it cost before they voted whether or not to go the line cost of the item know to to save that conservation $300 or 400 whatever number was agreed upon by you know the board of selectman fincom does that really adequately provide the boots that she needs and not having a requisition order to look at them so you can make a decision as sident because do any of you know what she really needs and what's being presented is exorbitant for boots Jim Maggie I buys two pairs a year for 300 bucks yeah I can that yeah like in the two pairs of boots per year like was really the $150 each was really what we based it off like I would we do have an ability in talking with the town accountant if we wanted to up broaden that $300 line between all of our field employees to have it actually we can work on the languag here to have it to have it cover more than boots uh like we can do that as well so if we have an employee like the conservation agent who is fine with one so hypothetically a$1 150 pair of boots but then within that $300 range have the ability to buy bug spray or anything else within that range we could do that as well so that's something we can work on in the future so I think I've heard enough to make a motion okay I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 171 Conservation Commission and the proposed additional Cuts in the amount of $ 69,4 19161 motion made in second oh I'm sorry I'll second that motion made in second any discussion all those in favor I I I Trails committee on the floor looks like qu of this budget you got they did not submit a budget no they did they didn't and I believe it was like was it yeah they like their budget usually comes it's one of like first ones in uh January 29th oh okay make a motion that um we accept the department 174 Trails committee um recommendation of $800 second motion made in second any discussion all those in favor I I he is an i planning board 175 I apologize to um the trails commit else looking at they're on top of it don't on the floor for planning board um I would like to make a motion to recommend planning board Department 175 in the amount of $ 63,360 second that motion May seconded any discussion all those in favor I Peterson I Board of appeal 176 so professional technical went down $2500 yes sir it's um the the p&t both the planning board and the zoning board it covers it covers unforeseen legal expenses um it is always a um as every legal budget like there's always an unknown there but based on Trends what we're um anticipating what uh in the pipeline and what would anticipate not being in the pipeline that's why we believe there's an ability to do that okay that's including battery storage is here that is why we left the planning board I'll line okay so there is a motion on the floor please I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 176 uh board of appeals in the amount of 38,000 $371 182 second that motion made in second any discussion all those in favor hi hi Peters and I agricultural commission we don't have anything from them but we were able to um uh reincorporate the Briggs Garden expenses into parks and re budget okay you talk to um mrjo I haven't been able to follow up with him um and he hasn't followed up with me either Department 189 motion on the floor um I'd like to make a motion to recommend a department 189 development and Industrial Commission in the amount of $1,000 I'll second that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I Peters and I 192 this is like a budget we've also um tried to use a very carefully crafted out carefully crafted out oh scapple with as well so I see um it looks like building repair Town Office Buildings that went down by $5,000,000 I noticed I don't know how long it's been like that I just noticed the old police station the uh sing starting to rip off you can look at that see the insulation and the studs and I don't know if that's been brought up or not but I'd like to I don't disagree it's like you know that's just one thing I saw just drive yeah no that's we can follow up on that so um I'd like to leave 5,000 in just we can like that understand you want to increase it to um 255,000 um so just I take the town administr original yes yeah at 2:55 yep yes sorry okay that a motion um I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 192 public buildings and properties in the amount of 250 $ 5,140 I'll second that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I P thank you Town reports I just had a question about town reports um this is not anything well it's kind of budget but I just is that some so all towns do this the book that we get and this is this like some law or what it know where item from yes statutary responsibility I think I read to in the statute that it has to be approved it has to be printed by a certain date before town meeting and available to the public for the budget to be approved I think I read something like that does that make sense for you to be able to vote on the budget yeah so that's that's kind of cool you know forces us to spend money to print it though yeah well yeah I was like well they could maybe help with this but I guess not wishful thinking um I'd like to make a motion to approve Department 195 count report and the amount of $2,500 I'll second that motion made second any discussion all those in favor I I I Comm reports we did um Police Department police and Communications were late so I can't I won't okay does anyone have any questions motion um I'd like to make a motion that we recommend um Department 210 Police Department as written as additional proposed targeted cuts is there a second not hearing any I'll s down and make the second any discussion all those in favor how late was it uh just February 5th okay I think a lot of that has to do with turmoil and Department with no Chief yet I'm not making excuses to them like there was a see proposed decrease in 5106 I don't see that no I'm just kidding um yeah there's a $20,000 decrease um we have an ability to rely on a grant um that we have an ability to rely on a reoccurring Grant to fund um to fund that um to be able to drop that expense for part time dispatches down by $20,000 okay I don't know if you remember the um police chief was here telling us that you to put money into office chairs even though everybody had a new one um just in case they broke but they all had guarantees so um what do they do under those office chairs I don't know all right any questions um any comments I'll make a motion a motion on the floor I'll I'll make a motion that we recommend Department 215 Communications Department um as written for additional propos for it cuts I'll found second it any discussion all those in favor I pet I oh no Department um Mike yes there was a decrease in 54.81 yes it was 54 54 81 yeah that is based on our current year Trends um I like we believe at this time we have an ability to reduce that by $2,500 based on County of Trends okay obviously especially with fire engine if like if there's a large emergency response that oh yeah oh that oh yeah that can come back um Midway through FY 25 and we'll have and we could have to deal with that but see like it's one of just um we try to go by um um especially with the fu of zero based budget but also prior year Trends as well especially L think about prior year budgets with the uh fire department he does a very good job of spending controlling it um he also knows what he can spend and spends it which is what I mean is if he's budgeted 10,000 he's going to spend 10,000 um and if you notice a lot of his expenses um come towards the end of the budget where um he realizes he has the money and to keep it coming the following year it's just notice a trend that I've noticed for quite some time that he does that um not not saying we should reduce it I'm just thinking in the future we should watch um what his budget is and what gets spent and I don't think it's because he does it to a te um I I think it's because it's spent because he has it and there is a couple other department well one other department that I know does that for a fact um and I've been privy to the meetings where they talk about well this is what we got left to budget let's why a roll of stamps instead of a book of stamps um and I I hate to to see that mhm because it's money that gets tied up uh and money spent unnecessarily but again I'm not saying we should cut it just making that out there so is there a motion on the floor for fire department I'd like to make a motion to recommend Line 220 fire department and the amount of 776228 7.97 second motion made in seconded any discussion all those in favor I I he and I Ambulance Service no no changes from there's a 3,000 um uh and the additional uh Target cuts in line 5240 and there a $33,000 difference thank you I'm sorry what line 5240 ambulance repairs and ambulance equipment repairs and maintenance just some prior your Trends again and no prior year Trends were actually higher um um they were over actually over the 50% explain yeah like I me but it's just I mean like with like equipment like repairs it's like again like it's it just a chance item it could be high it could be low um so that's where that came from yeah like there's no I mean like as I mentioned and as I've been mentioned like I mean really we I mean the cuts we're trying to evaluate um and look at there's no not easy a lot of them are uncomfortable um this is just where we are trying to close a big structural um a big stru big structural budget Gap so other than that one line it looks like everything else the department requested yes was recommended yes so that's pretty good and it's only it's $3,000 and we do have a reserve fund and we do have a special so we have resources and everything else was it looks like everything else was recommended so are you entertaining a motion okay I'd like to make a motion to recommend line 231 Ambulance Service in the amount of$ 8128 7156 I'll second that seconded any discussion all those in favor hi hi hi 241 building inspection [Applause] motion on the floor sure I would like to make a motion uh to recommend Department 241 building inspection in the amount of $4,670.00 inspection there a motion on the floor to make a motion to recommend line 242 gas inspection in the amount of $6,750 motion made and seconded oh I'm sorry I'll second that motion made and second any discussion all those in favor I I I a public in a plumbing inspection I'd like to make a motion to recommend line 243 plumbing inspection in the amount of $7,750 I'll second that motion being seconded any discussion in favor I I and Peters and I uh weights and measures I'd like to make a motion to recommend line 244 weights and measures and the amount of $1,500 second seconded any discussion those in favor I I I've asked this before what is weight in measures when when you go to the gas station like like you the certification that the um oh yeah yeah that basically the mechanics that go into y determining gas volume like anything that measures in terms of the scale has to be certified every year okay I'll ask that again next year uh electrical inspection I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 245 electrical inspection the amount of $20,000 I'll second that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I I I Animal control officer and Technical went down just looks like don't use that much of it was based on PRI year history right how like how that um th that line and the line item above it um they can be very unpredictable based on what is taken in so we didn't want to we didn't want to truly cut off a no spider face there right oh oh or cat's face or dog's face why no that sounded bad okay no mind they motion on the floor I'd like to make the to recommend uh Department 292 animal control in the amount of $60,500 all those in favor I icy preparedness pretty straightforward I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 299 emergency preparedness in the amount of $4,500 second that motion made and seconded any discussion in favor I education need uh motion on the floor hearing none I'll make a motion no I'm sorry I was gon to say we're in trouble no it's it's just this is a big budget sure 53% but who's counting thank you that's a lot but I don't see any difference from uh yeah there there's no we have no difference from departmental requests on what the town recommends because it is a assessment so we really we have to recommend an assessment so with that said I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 300 education and the amount of 14 m731 33848 I'll second that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor i i p and I highways the only cut with supplies diesel went down a motion on the floor I'll make a motion to recommend Department 422 Highway in the amount of $782,500 second that I'll second that motion made in seconded any discussion all those in favor I P is and I no nice control a motion on the floor um yes I would like to make a motion to recommend Department 423 snow and ice control in the amount of $50,000 seconded any discussion in favor I I I TI and berley Bridge like to make a motion that we accept the recommendation for Department to 429 dayon Berkeley Bridge um 1,600 second motion M and seconded any discussion all those in favor and I uh this is the last year for this I know it's not here but is this the last year for that no it's all paid off it's all paid off as yes no we have it right yes I know I know one of the few things that we have yes it's all paid off I remember your comment from last year so for um off duty police details it looks like fy22 we spent 8,000 and change FY 23 was 3,000 is there something coming down the road Main Street Main Street that's a big deal okay so that would make sense okay and yeah like I mean I can just like I don't want to reopen everything up but because we left that alone um no um I'm sorry we cut actually 4,000 from there but we also left the highway department inside alone as well in terms of details so they have the ability the superintendent does have the ability to use both lines to manage um the main project with police details again we also to as we move forward in the cost in the true cost estimate um phase that project too like if we do have to T anything up in the future we have an ability to do that then too awesome okay is there a motion on the floor I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 432 street cleaning and storm water in the amount of 1 million yes thank you that would be nice too $247,200 for line 5294 C at 150,000 that's the same that's being um requested in f 24 and then two lines down from that 105,000 i533 is the same amount for my 424 it's the last year of the contract and I did reach out to the Board of Health to get some updated figures so we can at least account for some type of increase and not just level funded um because we will have to make up that increase somewhere else if it's not in the operating budget so I just want to point that out that those aren't true numbers thank you that's that's important to know that's a huge part of our budget this like we talked about at our last meeting and sure uh we're up on Bo just and C mass and that's definitely something that we need to keep in mind and uh plan for and yeah so thank you that's that's good to know we don't know where we're going to stand with those contracts did Board of Health respond um nope it's been discussed verbally a few times and then I sent out an email first thing this morning to um the chairman and the department head and I have it back and I checked it thank you okay is there a motion on the floor I would like to make a motion to recommend Department 433 waste collection disposal in the amount of $783,000 I'll second that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I I is and I for station which is no this does the solid waste committee work on this budget or is it the Board of Health it's actually the highway superintendent um and then he brings it forward to Solid Waste as well okay so the solid was committee look at this yes okay is there a motion on the floor I'd like to make a motion to recommend uh line 435 transfer station in the amount of $3,562 49 second that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor hi hi Den I Cemetery I was on the commission so I'll sure set this one out you have a motion on the floor I'd like to make a motion that we make the recommendation for Department 491 Cemetery um as proposed by Town Administrator down second any discussion all those in favor he is I the board vote on this don't worry about it I'm not gonna vote on this okay I do not have assigned from the bo itself yeah so I have on my sheet it was submitted to one but that would have been the um office the director of the board but I did read the I keep going back to this um I read the letter that we got and it said if you have a board the board had to vote on it and keep sign like if you just mentioned or the board could um submit the minutes and they needed paperwork basically so um have a problem recomend recommending the budget when it was clear we set our ground rules and that's I keep going back to what our ground rules are so okay is there a motion on the floor we do have a conundrum there because the one member of the board is not able to vote on the board Health budget and but it's not like that it's still G to make it to the warrant and the finance committee can still recommend a line item the the finance committee can still recommend it because the recommendations technically do come at the at or are based on the fincom recommendations okay hearing no motion M the uh budget does not pass Council and agent she's pretty good at doing her budget there a motion on the floor i' like to make a motion to to recommend Department 541 Council on Aging in the amount of $178,400 seconded question I had a question on veteran services so I asked for the basically the turn backs of departments for FY 23 just to help as a decision-making process it look unless I'm reading this wrong veteran services it looks like they returned $54,000 last year yeah they did So based on the chapter chapter 115 census 115 right yes um yes um they um they didn't have basically the reimbursement um the basically State reimbursement volume to draw against the entire um uh to draw against the entire what was it the entire um actually in in FY 23 I believe it was around like 70,000 that's why in FY 24 it was uh the veteran benefit line was dropped down to 40,000 because of that turnback and because there wasn't the there wasn't really the veteran census who um basically were claiming um claiming those benefits going into fy2 we know based on claims that we have that that that basically those those census cases have increased again um and based on current claims and so that's why uh we are proposing that $20,000 increase because of those increase claims that we're seeing now and we're trending at for f in FY 24 yes in FY 24 typically we do have uh basically just like the health insurance budget we have to carry some additional buffer because in case we get like in case we get like a veteran who who has a claim or moves in and we have to take on that claim right and um yeah but thank you no problem one more question on that you know how sometimes you have like a probably would be like a revolving fund but you know for that buffer so we don't have to raise the money every year like if we know we could have a perhaps a we never know what who's going to walk in the door right we want to make sure we have those services having to race in appropriate is there a way because we race it this year or last year yeah I never heard of that like it kind of like an overlay or um I never heard of that okay is my experience to fund every year and then if we do have any return back it um it does close out into free cash okay but um especially with our veterans also like there are other things that like got more easier to take really the risk on there but like with our veterans we just no I don't propose that thank you motion for veteran services I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 543 veteran services in the amount of 122,000 $ 51081 I'll second that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I hi 549 uh Ada coordinator which the u s was moved to the town administrator's budget so it's just um supplies is there a motion on the floor I'll make a motion to recommend Department 549 8 coordinator in the amount of $450 I'll second that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor one thing under discussion if we move the uh stien under Town Administrator can we just move supplies too just make it cleaner the that go back to what I meant so we're finally defining the um the separation between the commission on disability and the adaa so 549 now will be the will be the co I not the beautiful that's all okay um all those in favor hi hi p and I a library ask why there's actually a difference it should be sewer what what happen is that out of place just at the very end because they're an Enterprise so the general FS okay so why is your difference why is that overall My overall recommendation but three grand higher oh that might be a typo in line oh yes yes yep thank you sorry about that I would actually recommend to take the departmental request there and we save three grand beautiful okay is there a motion on the floor I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 610 library in the amount of $318,750 is seconded any discussion all those in favor I I'm I pox and Rec I'd like to make a motion to recommend 630 Parks and Rec in the amount of $21,000 second that motion made seconded any discussion all those in favor I I I Town historian there a motion on the floor that was originally 2000 she I know she wanted to do a did she ever provide additional [Music] feedback ear packets um I know that she said that she had not reached out for sponsors so I know that was one of the questions sponsors to offset the booklets and things that she wanted to do um I think she did say that she' be good with it going on and not any copies sorry I think it's yes um so I printed out there's a few paragraphs you guys want to well if that was B the overview basically that's that sounds good so she's willing to put online she's going to look at sponsors and she can always come back to the board and we have our own professional technical lines you know we so no that's enough for me I don't know about you guys that's fine okay so I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 690 to story in the amount of $250 that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I pleas and I historical commission a motion on the floor I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 691 historical Commission in the amount of $1,150 second that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I I I uh cable committee motion on the floor I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 698 cable committee and the amount 8,280 made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I oh I sorry Peters and I um Debt Service Department 710 so these these three are were submitted late so I'm going to set these ones out sure um I'd like to make a motion to accept Department 710 um maturing princip on longterm debt um as recommended by the Town Administrator okay I'll step down as chair and second that there motions been made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I I'm I no I'd like to make a motion that we um recommend Department 751 interest on long-term debt as recommended by the Town Administrator I'll step down as chair and second that any discussion all those in favor I I um I'd like to make a motion um that we recommend Department 752 interest on short-term debt as recommended by the town Administration I like that one the best that's a zero yeah all these blend together Peter brought a um a ruler and I need to a good idea apartment 820 there a motion on the floor can I just make a recommendation yeah um so the state assessments 8:20 and Department 8:30 the County assessments come off of the cherry sheet from D you don't mind recation just being as stated with the cherry sheet the amounts have been changing this is only the house budget is the point that we're at okay I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department a20 State assessments and charges in line with the cherry sheet I'll second that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I I I'd like to make a motion to recommend line 8:30 County assessments and charges in line with the cherry sheet I'll second that motion made in seconded any discussion all those in favor I I iy benefits 11 motion on the floor um I'd like to make a motion um that we recommend Department 911 retirement pension contributions as recommended by the Town Administrator why does it look like you have recommendations on here so the retirement comes from um first County Retirement and that is the cost if we do a one-time payment on July 1st and that's the lowest cost it could be so I um okay automatically just fill in across okay motion made uh I'll step down as chair and second motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I I no health insurance any motion I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 914 group health insurance in the amount of 1, 370,000 348 motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I I I group life insurance there a motion on the floor I'd like to make a motion to recommend 915 group life insurance and the amount of $2,000 I'll second that motion made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I I I employee employ contributions I'd like to make a motion to recommend line 916 employer contributions in the amount of $95,000 I'll second that motion being seconded any discussion all those in favor I I pet Ken and I Department 919 motion the floor I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 919 opep in the amount of $35,000 I'll second that motion made in seconded any discussion all those in favor I I keep to Caren is an i tuition this is the last year correct no oh okay sorry it was a something else I'd like to make a motion to recommend 920 tuition in the amount of $9,000 I'll second that motion meting seconded any discussion all those in favor I I liability insurance I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 945 liability insurance in the amount of 21,00 68 me sorry I'll second that motion me and seconded any discussion all those in favor I I Pete Kon I Enterprise fund this would all be funded directly from SE Department revenues they motion on the floor was there any Cuts in this yes there is a um about a $200 cut cut that relates to actually the stiens of the members um and like right at the beginning of the process like it was agreed that this year would not be a STP India for elected appointed members so there um oh there is like a level oh there is like a level s in for um commission is i that's the only difference between what was proposed and what was being recommended oh I missed that was that in the budget letter yes all right very good yes we all can miss things um I'd like to make a motion to recommend Department 600 sewer Enterprise Fund in the amount of $392,450 a second that seconded any discussion there we have there we have the budget um just um I can talk um yeah yeah we can in terms of how we really balance like I think having a having a broader discussion with the fincom on Thursday night um now that we have the expenses um oh yeah really twed up with the B recommendation then we can um oh oh yeah oh yeah get back to collaborating with the fincom just in terms of the revenues that are um that we um that everyone agrees uh like well I fund the expenses so um with that I like if we can turn our attention to the warrant if that's okay um the the list of the warant Articles um is the um has been have been updated by Miss Brady I really want to thank Karen for her work putting everything together we have the uh the very first uh the very first draft duration I want to repeat it's a draft consideration of the warrant um because I um oh yeah like we go through it then we go through it again then we go through it at least five more times um the next few weeks um but it is based on the um proposed warrant articles that um uh that were uh that were outlined and reviewed generally in terms of the list by the board last week um we do have a number we do have a number of capital um propos Capital requests like we met actually this afternoon with capital La committee like we rank prioritized and scored uh each each of the requests that came forward and also reviewed them as they related to um to uh prior year just just um as an example the Main Street uh project um that has already been ranked scor and prioritized by the capital Outlet last year so that information last year pulled forward um into this year as well um so we did the scoring I earlier this afternoon we do um based on the scoring based on the available funding or frankly the lack of available funding we have we do like I will actually go back with the town accountant and we'll make recommendations based on what we heard um I'll relate to the um to the selectman to the fincom but which articles we have the ability to fund and why um we don't oh we're not at that place yet um but we are trying to balance really like what like really what our departmental priority needs really are um and we do have a lot like we also we have an ongoing investment in Main Street that is not um that is not inexpensive so we're trying to continue to trying to continue building up uh that so we have the ability to complete that project um but yeah those um those are the different type of things and again we should have um probably by even Thursday night some type of initial um initial recommendations for the board and for the fincom um just based on our ability um just based on our ability to fund uh which as I mentioned earlier is also is also going to be very very largely informed by how we close the budget um how we close the budget um the budget deficit as well um and and that will also inform what amounts of foney we also have the ability to put into stabilization of like any other areas because at this point it's all coming from the same funding source and um that same funding source only has an ability to do a finite all like all like a finite dollar amount like amount of things at this point so um we do just um just as a starting point with what we already using free cash to fund in the operational budget based on um different issues being retirements like another one-time things we have like I want to say about a free cash balance once we back those um oper operational budget cost out we have a free cash balance of about $710,000 but um as I just mentioned that is how that's utilized also is going to be greatly informed with how we balance the operational budget so um that will also inform what type of capital we have the ability to fund um and recommend for funding going into um going into going into the town meeting um are there any questions on that generally speaking at this point well sorry okay uh well the Departments are requesting like some of these bigger ticket items will they present it to the board yeah yeah like we can ask them too yes that's all um yeah oh yeah then we don't have to we have um yeah like I mean we um like if the board I like wanted to like if feel the board SK par we do have a little bit of time in terms of placing the one articles um we also have the meeting on on may as well um but um we do have a few proposed a few proposed bylaws like as like as the Bo knows relating to the police chief in the uh Deputy police chief hiring process we do uh from the commission on disability like an updated an updated C bylaw um we do from the town Treasurer have an updated um an updated proposed bylaw like relating to um um to the payment of fees uh by applicants of you know different land use projects that he's seeking to update as well I can if it's all right with the board I can make sure that anyone who has proposed an article um has the ability to present that overview to the board at its next meeting um just so we have all that the board has all that information as well awesome and uh yeah so but yeah that is really like the general list of oh yeah give everything where we are but again I mean what oh yeah like one thing in terms of the use of free cash is inform and the other at this point do you have anything else you want to add on that Serena so usually I like how you put B laws at the end um and I know in the past citizens petitions have always been the last thing on the war yeah yeah yes that is um yeah that's being proposed right now is article 17 but it's really the board's progy where they want that just to keep with the tradition I feel like it works like this looks like it's laid out how we normally do it I just and because I've since I've got involved in the town I've always like to put a bylaw on almost every town meeting and I know they usually right at the end and citizens petitions are even after that so I feel like it should be the last article other than that I don't have a I think the rest of the listing is fine my only concern was the that it was such a controversial um subject as opposed to everything else and um I don't know if how much of the public is going to be there because of it uh Pro or against uh and I thought having it closer to the beginning would um assure that those people who came to vote had chance to vote on it and not leave halfway through the meeting meeting because they do have a tendency to drag on that I would be concerned that they would not be able to vote on the article or they would not stay to vote on the article now the flip side is well it could force them to stay yeah I'm hoping for retention and um and that would be ideal too but um it's it's up to you guys whether we move them to the end I don't think there's any real Rhyme or Reason to the how they're on there yes sir I just want to point out as uh we would have ability for motion for reconsidering uh so I think Mr P's um suggestion is best if you put it at the end that means everybody can vote on it and they believe and they don't have to worry about voting on it early and then later on be consider after they've already left has been a huge point of contention in our town sure okay it's a good point let's move it to the yeah but as I mention this is a work in progress like we'll have additional updates but we just want to give everyone a first iteration we we that now any questions so you said we had how much free cash 700 and something thousand don't quote me on the exact number it's about 700,000 700,000 and that's before if it's we go down this road we pay for part of our deficit yes so then we have around 500,000 if we did pay probably probably less I would recommend well I'm based on what there were some um I yell there was some different recommendations that added I added the deficit back up if you will tonight which is fine but I would oh yeah but at this point generally speaking I like if um oh in terms of just a use of free cash like I would recommend around 250 just really to make sure we're balancing and balancing in a very stronger place and just breaking even and things like excavators and dump trucks and uh well those are the two big ones Sanders do those things goosed do the capital outl they do so there there's a strategic plan in place and they we know that we was coming that we needed an escavator and a lot of this were building as we go based on the fact that uh we're coming from a place where we didn't have any plan at all um so so we're still building that um and I actually during the capital out Lake committee meeting today what actually superintendent Ferry um to his great credit brought up is um we've come out we've grown in in terms of how we're playing capital but especially with Highway he has a ton of Aging equipment um ton of Aging equipment in vehicles um and he did ask Capital outlay to take really like a more involved and in-depth look to work with him to uh to to Really begin chatting out how he address his departmental needs which I think is I like is a great suggestion the challenges we're doing that with highway equipment but also on a on a separate for parallel track we're doing that with um Highway roads relating to the pavement management plan I can we're really doing it with a number of other Town departments too and it's just trying to reconcile a very very very limited resources right now that's that's gonna really not to sound like an alarmist but that's where like everything the reality is I think really going to continue to hit they've limited resources and these things take time to put together y but the um the street program seems to work right the pavement Management program yes it does we haven't even like begun because our Focus has just been on Main Street right now like we haven't begun to even broaden out be on Main Street but yes that is the Hope and expectation I like it um do you want to do any of the right I don't actually like I mean like until we really have some consensus with the fincom like I think it it really would be premature you agree um I know gentleman here wants to discuss one of them I'll right the two articles um so we're going to open up public input then so this gentleman can the two articles um we're going to enforce the uh three minute Rule and I know because you're here on behalf of the senior Cen so if you'd like to ask for an extension of that three minute rule extension and can I have one for each um well how much an extension go ahead although I do want to ask um uh is there going to be a review of uh Mr M's contract tonight as As schedule cont review of his of his performance right uh would I be allowed to speak during that time frame yes um yes well we're going to have public input after but okay yeah so during that time frame I'd like to have some input sure I'd like to make a motion to open public input I'll second that a motion on the floor made and seconded any discussion all those in favor I I I Smith Street um acting on behalf of Board of assessors I'd like to speak to sorry I don't know the number uh but the uh article concerning the senior tax exemption um as I discussed with you last time I was here we did go back to the board of assessors and we discussed it and unan unanimously agreed uh that this would be a good thing for our town and therefore it um did some back of the napkin we had uh Serena and Paul were there at meeting uh talking about you know what sort of budgetary impact and our back of the napkin um analysis is like in the $155,000 range and I know things are really tight right now and I know you're trying to whittle every penny away I'd like to state that you know in these really hard times our taxes are going through the roof and there are certain percentage of our population that are most and this small amount of money will make a huge difference to those people that are going really struggling so uh I would like to recommend or or request that the board recommend the article to reduce Senor tax exemption age from 70 to 65 thank you thanks for your hard work thank you uh on the second article which I uh will take off my board of assessors hat um and speaking as a citizen and as a uh the chairman of the dayon RTC I want to talk about the C citizens petition uh for Town administrative removal um and there are two things I want to say about it number one I think it's important that we have to make a distinction between the person and the job um if if there are people that are unhappy with Mr mullen's performance this is not the place this is not the way to do it you know whether whether he's good bad or indifferent and I I think overall he's a force of a good and I'd like to talk about that more during his review um but that's not this isn't the answer this so I would request that you do not uh recommend this also as uh RTC has been said that we are somehow behind this or have supported this I would like to publicly state that Dion RTC did not initiate this petition uh we do not support this petition we have actively against this petition we believe that the Town Administrator position is vital to this community and will continue to support the existence of thisiss and I would hope that this board recommends the same thank you thank you good words I appreciate that refreshing that's nice well it has been in general it's it has been publicly you know it's publicly it's crazy the whole idea is crazy I think I just want question on the senior citizen um 35 this year so there was 39 the prior year this year was 35 so it actually went down by four people right so based on uh Census Data that's where we come up with the 15,000 number we believe that it should qualify about 15 more people okay so we're hoping it's going to be around 50 sure uh so 50,000 increase of 15 right great thank you Nicole do you have anything I'm sorry what no no I I thought the board used to have a they used to say about appointed officials if you had um comments to bring it to the individually to Mr Mullen I believe but if it's about that was positive but not that but but his his review his review he's an appointed official man I I really appreciate citizen feedback but would it be best that concern good or bad like they go through us or they go through human resources I don't really know I just I know we used to have that well the policy is if you have a concern about another town official then you would town administ right um in this particular case you'd have to take it to the selectman right okay that's fine I I just had to think and through you know yeah but oh yeah like but oh yeah like I mean like what all do like with all do respect like I do just because um our public evaluations between the employee and the board and I and like I wouldn't oh yeah like and because it is like a serious process I mean like I would oh yeah like whether it is me or any other employee just try to really strictly adhere to that like I do think opening up like if if it's if it's opening up with another comment from one person here and then the next evaluation that happens in town oh oh yell at the any board has actually two or three comments I do think what is should be a rigorous process between a board and its employee it does have the it could have the ability to snowball and I think like I don't want to paraphrase for youo oh yeah but like it sounds like you may have that concern okay uh so you're recommending no public input on valuation even though it's done in public public input other than by the board okay feel about that yeah like just I mean oh yeah like would the audience here like oh yeah Ian like it could work great but like then like in like another situation for another employee yeah like I mean if we created oh like I wouldn't just want to have a slippy slope that's all I'm thinking of and trying to anticipate what said that in the past I think that's consistent with what we've done in the in the past my time I'm fine with that did you have well the only the comment I would have is what I think you said is that you know if I have criticisms of Mr Mullen where do I bring them say I during public input you would have the right to but not during his review not during his review okay so may I have reclaim my time for public inut uh sure you okay you guys okay with that chairman okay I respect that you're back the thing is I know that this is critical because Mr M is being reviewed tonight and I think there's a there's some bad perceptions out there I think Mr Mullen is not perfect uh he has made some some serious mistakes and I hope that you address them this evening um but in addition to any but he's human he's made mistakes we've all made mistakes if I look at the good that he has done the man Works tirelessly uh he's here all the time um I'll bet when he and I go to the voting booth we probably don't push the same levers but yet every time I'm I have a need of him he's right there for me he answers my phone calls he sits down he takes time with me he makes sure he's doing everything he can I think he has the best interest of this town at heart um and and I think that he's been doing a wonderful job and I don't think I think there's a perception out there of some people probably on my side of a that think that he's wasting money or he costs the town too much money or whatever but I think he needs to do a better job with advertising the grants he's brought in the money he's brought in and how much savings he's brought to the town um so overall you know like I said not perfect I'm not saying I'll be the first person to line up and say the problems that he has but I think the good that he has done for this town far outweigh far far outweigh the bad that he has and uh I would recommend that you guys give him you commensurately you know what I mean good thank you thank you thank you [Applause] yes Echo what Mr is that to the millions I'll repeat millions of dollars that Mr Mullen has brought in for this to in Grants greatest example is his work with Jake Ashen Claus bringing $2.75 million in for the bridge at muddo his vast experience in state county and local government and his connections and ties with people at the State House is very very valuable his work that he did behind the scenes and I know both of them would get up at this Podium and say the same Pat Hadad and Senator Mark Pacho and helping to provide funding from the state level to make the library a reality at no impact local tax budget is significant things that we don't see on a day to-day basis because of his ties and his experience been IM measurable and and bringing success to government in very difficult times thank you to us an act Ministries evaluation yeah I gave you oh you did so if you don't mind I'll take over so in this aggregate document I've Consolidated all the comments of the board members which include chairman Karen selectman Melo and Leonard Hull as a member of the board during the time frame encompassed by the evaluation um the rating scale included exceeded achieved ongoing needs Improvement or not applicable and if the board doesn't mind I'll read the overall rating and then some of the comments sure um Consolidated comments made um in the area of leadership and staff Effectiveness there was an overall rating of exceeded and the comments Mr Mullen received and exceeded or achieved in the areas of establ establishing sense of direction effectively delegating and gaining Trust on respective employees in comments included that Mr Mullen has shown excellent leadership and managing projects and foresight and strategic planning capabilities one Sor ongoing in the areas of motivating employees and keeping staff apprised of their strengths and or weaknesses with that comeon reflecting that Mr Mullen does motivate staff with bable feedback and Gatherings but there was still some weakness in performance reviews another member suggested that better lines of communication were needed but the Board of Health and the Conservation Commission number two planning and organizing there was an overall rating of exceeded and the board members felt that Mr Mullen exceeded and or achieved in all areas of planning and organizing and setting priorities but also recognized that new problems seem to take over too often the same member said that Mr mullon does a great job in anticipating problems and often has a number of solutions before coming to the board of Selectmen comments here also included planning for future needs of the town is definitely one of Mr mullen's strengths number three communications and community relations the overall rating was achieved in this area and the comments included the ratings almost entirely reflected Excellence are achieved in this category with one rating of ongoing with regard to keeping the town informed on issues needs and operations comments reflected that Mr Mullen never fails to keep the selectman informed and SES at maintaining open lines of communication with all team members which Fosters a positive work environment one member felt that it was tough to keep residents informed but Mr Mullen does a good job with the means at his disposal one member also indicated that Mr Mullan is always seeking the best ideas and has a unique ability to elicit cooperation from others it was also mentioned that Mr Mullen is an ex excellent Communicator who is amazing at staying calm Under Fire and has a great ability to put everyone at ease excellent writing skills were mentioned as another one of Mr mullen's strengths while me one member felt that Mr Mullen has a tendency to overwrite to get to the point number four problem solving Innovation and decision making had an overall exceeded rating Mr Mullen excelled or achieved in all areas of problem solving motivation I'm sorry Innovation and decision-making skills being able to successfully work in a fast-paced professional environment was noted as a strength for Mr Mullen it was also mentioned that Mr Mullen always gives multiple choices to the board in order to solve problems and always seeks advice when making decisions number five budget and financial management had an overall exceeded rating the board felt that Mr Mullen exceeded in the area of a budget and financial management is excellent at man managing the town's finances and one member mentioned that Mr Mullen is really outstanding in every aspect of this category another member indicated that Mr Mullen is showing strong communication and transparency in the budget process and is ensured that all stakeholders are engaged one comment also pointed out that Mike has developed developed a very successful budget management team that works very well together number six C customer service and service quality had an over overall rating have achieved in this category Mr Mullen received exceeded or achieved ratings by all board members with one comment stating that Mr mullon has excellent customer service skills and demands the same from all employees there has never been a complaint at Town Hall due to lack of service number seven personal professional and organizational integrity was a tie with exceeded and achieved Mr Mullen exceed exceeded or achieved in all areas of personal professional and organizational Integrity with one comment indicating that Mr Mullen has the utmost Integrity of anyone I know and that he was honest one member also commented that Mr Mullen brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the town that helps them make sound professional decisions number eight cross Department organizational management received exceeded in all areas Mr Mull received exceeded ratings in this category and one member commented that his working relationships with other Town managers is is another of his strong assets Mr Mullen is constantly trying to get departments to crosswork and has bonly meetings with department heads to ensure everyone is aware of other department happening um planning leadership and project objectives those will be goals so these are goals and there currently there's 11 of them if you'd like me to read them um asking that we come back to these after budget and determine which ones are of most importance and then overall the board was pleased with the work that tler administrator has done for the town with one member stating that it was the best decision the town has made to hire Mr Mullen and I love stating that he is one of our most Dependable members Mr Mullen accepts constructive criticism consistently Works to improve and grow from each situation including difficult circumstances like the police chief hiring process he is willing to get involved no matter how much work there is his positive attitude helps others keep motivation high and encourages others he has excellent knowledge of the Town by love um I have to Echo Mo's comments because I think he nailed it to a te I don't think we could ask for a better um and that shows when we go to those functions when the amount of people that come up and say oh you guys don't know how a good of a decision you made hiring hiring hiring you like I said to eat myself but um Mr Moore said it better than I can my biggest concern is the one big mistake that we made which uh was the police chief uh not that I want to hop on something that's bad because uh you've done so much good but it costs us some lot of H feelings and um it certainly caused the the uh opinions of the town to change and that's probably why we have this recall on the the warrant uh it certainly isn't again Mr Mo said it I think they confused the man with the position because two days after the police chief debacle um there was a warrant article petition to or Citi citizens petition to eliminate the moderator and personally and I can't speak for them I think they were going after you um which in itself is is a shame because of the the great work that you do do but uh we have to own our mistakes and I know you do um but the the one criticism is we let that one drop we let it get away from us and um that we obviously we can't let something like that happen again there's nothing to do uh to change that it can't be undone and nothing you can do in the future will present it uh um prevent it from happening again but I I I just have to say it um I think you do a great job couldn't ask for anyone better I'd be disappointed if if you left us more than I would be if uh for for any other reason you have anything like to add yeah I just want to add um if it's okay a personal story um it's as me as the town nurse so it's not so much as me as Selman but it still speaks to Mike as a person um when I came on as the public health nurse I this was not my specialty I knew nothing about being a public health nurse I knew nothing about local government um and Mike took me right under his wing um Mike helped me with my first flu Clinic that wasn't something he needed to do he didn't need to come on a Saturday and sit with me for hours while 12 people showed up for a a flu shot um as well as he got me in touch with the Massachusetts Association of Public Health nurses um and thanks to him getting me in touch with them um come in two weeks I'm going to be the president of that Association so these are these are leadership skills um that he went outside of his Silo as town administrated and came into the health department um and he led me um as a leader and I am I can't even tell you how grateful I am so thank you nice um I know you weren't here for more than a month but you have opinions and if you'd like to share them with us that's fine if you don't that's fine too um I just I will Echo both everyone's points in the room you we're so so lucky to have you as a Town Administrator I think you're doing a fantastic job I think you bring the town together and you have excellent vision for our town and um you can see towards the future excellent planner um some of the points in here how good you are with you know our budget and our fiscal position and what we're so so lucky to have you you're a true public servant you say it's a lifestyle and you certainly live it but I did didn't want say too much because I I felt this this evaluation was before my time that's understandable I respect what you guys say I'll I'll um I'll vote but I think you guys should make your motion okay is there a motion on the floor to accept his um review as written I'd like to make a motion to accept um the town of tian's performance evaluation for the Town Administrator as written I'll St down as chairman and second that any discussion all in favor I I pet Haron I thank you Mike thank you no thank you all thank you thank you um any more public input I have I have some yes um so I had the opportunity to visit the um fire station today and talk with our fire chief and some of the guys uh a hardworking Personnel over at the fire station and I I just noticed talking about we make we all make mistakes as a board I feel like we oversight that we left um that we did a proclamation at our last meeeting and we just left the the fire department I don't think they got an invite and they perform life saving measures and um that neighbor of ours is alive and can testify to that I just thought it would be nice intentionally did that them to have their so he purposely did not put them on with the fire the police department okay I'm sorry you didn't know about I didn't no I apologize um but they did a tremendous job yeah they did yeah I just want to acknowledge they one here but that was that was on purpose so I think the Selman got some slack for not inviting them probably because I guess it's good to say that then um I'm glad it I'm glad you brought it up and I'm glad it's out there I didn't realize um but yes uh it will be I'm not going to say it's going to be corrected because there's nothing wrong uh it was just established by the chief oh that's thank you I appreciate that uh all right case closed thank you okay uh motion to adjourn like to make a motion tojn second second any discussion all those in favor I I thank you thank you